Why Home Warranties are Smarter Than Home Service Websites

At times, it can be difficult to find help to service your home systems and appliances.

You may not always have the connections available to choose a high-quality service or handyman.

That’s where home service websites supposedly come in.

Home service websites work as business directories that offer visitors reviews and quotes of repairmen in their area. This business works to try and offer individuals an easier way to shop for repairs or renovations by comparison.

How exactly do these websites work, though, and how much can we trust them?

A Membership for Mediocre Mending

Some of these websites require a membership to reap the benefits. This means even if you don’t hire anybody at all, you’re still paying a monthly subscription for it. This can cost users a whole lot of money for a whole lot of nothing.

What’s more, only members of these sites can make reports on the companies they’ve hired. So, unless you’re able to come out of pocket for these pricey services, you’re not able to leave your two cents offering a differing opinion.

Paid Ratings

Home service sites offer some certified businesses that they deem as the top contenders for home repairs. This doesn’t always mean that they are great at their jobs, however.

Many of these certified companies have paid to be advertised as the “best of the best.”

As many of us are aware, money doesn’t always buy happiness. A company that simply pays for a great rating might lead individuals to believe that they haven’t necessarily earned that badge of honor.

It may be difficult for someone to trust that these ratings are unbiased if the site has been paid to convince people to choose them first.

Quotes from Affiliates

One of the final steps in purchasing a service from one of these websites is entering your information to receive a quote from various companies. This may sound familiar to you if you’ve ever tried shopping for insurance.

You find some companies that promise you the best quality of service, enter your information, and begin asking for mass quotes from all sorts of companies. This usually means you need to confirm that you are ok with the site sending this information to their affiliates.

Once you check that box, you ultimately make yourself a marketing target for any and every service that paid its way into that site’s advertising. This comes in various forms, including email, texts, calls, and more.

A Better Way – Home Warranties

An alternative to looking for help and hoping you can afford it every time an appliance or home system breaks in your home is a home warranty.

Easy and affordable, home warranties are where the stress ends in the search for repairs.

Why put yourself on the receiving end of aggravating calls and spam emails when you can have all your repairs handled by a company you trust and is easy to work with?

In most cases, your standard appliances, plumbing system, and even your doorbell can be repaired after a simple phone call. The best part? There is no haggling or false advertising involved.

Home Appliances That Increase Your Power Bill When You’re Not Using Them

High energy bills got you down? Or just thinking about ways to trim your budget?

Did you know that some home appliances contribute to your power bill – EVEN when you’re not using them?

It’s no surprise that appliances use a significant amount of power to do their jobs. What we might take for granted, however, is that some appliances still use power when we’re not even thinking about them.

Meet Standby Power

Standby power is used by our appliances that have remote capabilities. They stay on so they can begin working when they receive a signal.

More and more appliances come with this technology.

This is what makes it possible to begin washing cycles from our smartphones or put our coffee makers on a timed schedule.

While standby power is minimal, so many devices and appliances at once can add up when we get our monthly bills.

Here are just a few appliances that can noticeably increase your power bill even when you’re not using them.

Appliances with Digital Displays

Appliances that have tiny digital displays will consistently use power just to show you the time. Microwaves and coffee makers are just a couple examples of appliances that use power when you’re not warming up food or a morning pick-me-up.

Many have clocks that will tell the time from their bright LEDs. Some can be started with a push of a button from a remote or fob, which means it stays on so it can communicate with other devices.

Washers & Dryers

Our cleaning appliances understandably use quite a bit of power while in use. However, these new technologically advanced appliances come with a few energy-sucking pitfalls.

Some newer washers and dryer models are equipped with soft-touch keypads, which fall under the stand-by umbrella. They are ready to receive a touch signal at any time to indicate that it’s time to work.

Some even come with network capabilities that allow you to remotely begin wash or dry cycles.

Air Conditioner & Electric Furnace

Air conditioners and furnaces are easily some of the biggest energy vampires. People living in harsh climates appreciate the relief of cooler or warmer air once they enter their homes.

It can be easy to forget how much this luxury costs us until we receive the energy bill!

These appliances use up an incredible 3,000 to 13,000 watts of electricity on average per hour. When you forget to turn them off before you leave the house, they could be constantly running. When the sun is at its highest during the day, the AC fights for its life to keep your house cool.

Tips for Decreasing Your Power Bill

The answer for curtailing your excessive power costs due to idle appliances may be obvious.

Tip #1 – Unplugging or otherwise cutting the power to these appliances when they’re not being used is a great place to start.

Tip #2 – For air conditioners and furnaces, you can shut the systems off when nobody is home to use them. During other times of the day, it helps to close off unoccupied areas of the house and raise the temperature accordingly. 

Tip #3 – Idle power usage adds up. Your wallet will thank you for paying attention to the little things that take up power for seemingly no reason at all.

One Last Time for Protecting Your Budget

Managing your home’s electricity usage is a smart way to keep an eye on your budget.

But an even better way is having an easy, affordable home warranty. Home warranties protect you from unexpected repair and replacement costs from your home’s major systems ranging from kitchen appliances to central air conditioning and even pool equipment if you choose. Don’t let a broken appliance ruin your hard work on your budget. Get a free quote on a home warranty today!

Hot Water Heaters – 5 Maintenance Tips Every Homeowner Needs

Your water heater works hard to keep you and your family supplied with warm water. It converts energy into heat, which gives you steamy baths and clean clothes.

Stuffed away in your basement or attic, most water heaters have a life expectancy of six to 13 years. That is if you’re diligent about preventative maintenance.

These tips will help you apply the best care to your appliance to ensure a long lifespan.

Tip #1: Drain the Water Heater

Over time, debris will build up in the tank of your water heater. The longer it sits there, the more it carries the potential to degrade the integrity of your water heater.

After a while, it will corrode the tank and weaken its ability to run at its full potential.

Every six months or so, it’s a good idea to entirely flush the water out of the tank.

This can be done by shutting off the gas or power to the water heater and then draining the water through a hose connected to the drain valve.

Tip #2: Insulate the Heater and Pipes

When you go through the steps to insulate the water heater, it should save you some money on your energy bills.

Insulating the water heater will help keep the heat retained within the unit, meaning it doesn’t have to work as hard to do its job.

Some water heaters already come insulated. In the case of older models, there are some ready-made insulating jackets on the market made specifically for water heaters. These are typically made from fiberglass. This same material can be used to wrap around the pipes connected to the water heater.

Tip #3: Lower the Temperature

Do you know what temperature your water heater is set to? Many people don’t!

Typical home usage of hot water only calls for temperatures of 120°F maximum.

This helps lower unnecessary energy expenses, prevents the potential for burns, and increases the lifespan of your water heater.

Find your thermostat dial and simply lower the temperature. If the water heater doesn’t display the temperature on the model, turn on the water in the house and hold a thermometer under the water to get an accurate reading.

Tip #4: Check the Temperature Release Valve

The temperature pressure release (or TPR) valve located at the top of your water heater is in place to lower the pressure inside the tank. Pressure builds when water is heated, which can cause an abundance of pressure.

The TPR valve works to regulate this pressure and lower the risk of an explosion.

If you notice a leak from the valve, it could mean it needs to be replaced. Otherwise, keep checking it a few times a year.

You can manually lift the lever and ensure water is released from the discharge pipe.

Tip #5: Check or Replace the Anode Rod

The anode rod works by sacrificially attracting corrosive agents to it so they don’t deteriorate the inside of the tank. This part of your water heater needs to be checked regularly to guarantee that the inside of the tank is stable.

You can unscrew the rod from its hex head on top of the water heater. If you notice that it’s less than half an inch thick or riddled with calcium buildup, it’s time to replace the anode rod.

Remember – Safety First

Always make sure you are keeping yourself and your family safe when you maintain your water heater. Shut off the power and the gas supply to the water heater before performing any intensive maintenance, and be mindful of access panels.

It helps to always know where your shut-off switches are and how to turn the pilot light on and off.

Bonus Tip: Get a Home Warranty!

These tips are great for keeping your water heater in good working order, but sometimes accidents happen. Water heaters rupture or simply stop working. Sometimes water leaks can cause quite a bit of damage.

Rather than waiting for something unexpected to happen and spending thousands of dollars on a replacement, get an easy and affordable home warranty today! Your budget will thank you!